Typewriting machine



1. A. BfsMnH. TYPEWBITING MACHlNE I APPLICATION FILED APR.22. 1920. 1,419,698., I I PatentedJune13,1922..

J. A. B. SMITH. TYPEWRITING MACH|NE. APPLICAT ION FILED APR.22, 1920.

5'SHEETSSHEET Z.

Patented June 13, 1922.

J. A. B. SMITH. TYPEWRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APII.22, 1920.

Patented June 13, 1922,

5 SHEETSS HEET a.

Patentefl June 13, 1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

J..' A.. B. SMITH. TIYP'EWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEAD APR.22, 1920.

J. A. B. SMITH. TYPEWRITI'NG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.22. I9 20.

Patented June 13, 1922.

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JESSE A. B. SMITH OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JESSE A. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing: in Stamford, inthe county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for facilitating the proper relative positioning of work-sheets on a platen, and is herein dis closed as applied to the Underwood standard typewriting machine.

In the class of work to be handled by machines to which this invention is applied, names and addresses or the like are'to be written on a record-sheet and carbon copies made onbills or forms, which are fed into the machine in strips, each of which comprises a plurality of said bills or forms. If

desired, carbon copies of the names and ad-- dresses may also be made on a tally-strip. Inasmuch as the printing of the names and addresses on'the record-sheet is to check up the writing of the names and addresses on bills or forms to befilledout later, it is desirable to have successive names and ad- I dresses written close together on the recordsheet, while the names and'addresses on the strip of bills are comparatively far apart. In carrying'out this invention,-the strip of forms is delivered from the platen to a paper-table which may be adjustable in width, and also adjustable as a whole parallel to the axis of the platen. Provision may be made of a leading-edge-gage on the paper-table.

The record-s ieet may be supported above the paper-table by suitable means such as arms parallel to the axis of the platen, the forward edges of said arms being in alignment and serving as a means for properly" gaging the leading edge of the record-sheet when the latter is introduced into the machine.

In order tofacilitate the positioning or collating of the record-sheet and the formstrip, so that a formsubsequent to the first may be properly positioned relatively to the record-sheet, provision is made of a suitable bail, swingable to and from effective position,and of means tending to hold said bail in either itseffective position or in an ineffective position. The bail may be provided with suitable means, such as rolls, to press the record-sheet against, the aforesaid arms Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed A ril 22,

Patented June 13, 1922.

1920. Serial No. 375,676.

member, adapted to-enteraperforation in the form-strip when the perforation is brought into register with an aperture in the paper-table. Obviously, a plurality of spring-pressed'pins may be used, the forms or bills and the paper-table being modified to vco-operate therewith.

It should be understood that before the introduction of the record-sheet and the form-strip, with a suitable carbon-sheet therebetween, the usual feed-rolls are cast off in theusual manner. The leading edge of the record-sheet is' then brought into co porting arms, and the leading edge of the form-strip is brought into engagement with the leading-edge-gage on the paper-table. hen desired, the bail may be thrown into effective position after the record-sheet has been properly gaged, in order to hold the record-sheet inposition while the form-strip is being brought into engagement with the leading-edge-gage on the papertable. The feed-rolls may then be restored to normal position, to enable feeding of the recordsheet and the form-strip withthe platen, and the bail thrown to ineffective position so as not to interfere with the feeding of the record-sheet and form-strip.

After Writing the name and address on two or more lines, the platen may be linespaced to advance the record-sheet into position of the first line of the new name and address. The bail may then be thrown to effective position, to press the record-sheet against the supporting fingers and to bring the spring-pressed pin into engagement with the form-strip. The usual feed-rolls may then be released from the platen, and the form-strip drawn forward until the springpress ed pin" drops into a perforation brought into register with an aperture in the paper-table, thus automatically arresting the form-strip or sheet. A new form or bill will then be properly positioned for receiv'ing'the first line of the name and address thereon. 'The 'feed-rolls may then be restored to effective position relative to the platen, and the bail withdrawn to ineffem,

incidence with the forward edges of the sup- 75 tive position, so tl'ia t'line-spacing will no Figure 1 is a perspective view of the platen frame of an Underwood standard typewriting machine, with my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional side view, showing "worksheets in adjusted position for'typewriting the name and address on the first bill or form of the work-strip, the bail being shown in the position in which it is placed v arm 18 on a shaft 19 to turn said shaft 19 to hold the record-sheet in position.

Figure 4 is a sectional side view similar to Figure .3, but showing the spring-pressed writing and line-spacing are to be effected.

pin prevented from .entering the corresponding perforation in the paper-table by means of the strip of forms.

Figure 5 is a sectionalside view, showing the record-sheet and the form-strip in position for the second name and address to be written thereon, the bail and spring pressed pin beingwshown in dot-and-dash lines in the .position assumed when type- Figure 6 shows the-strip or detachable forms in connection with the paper-table to receive the same.

.45 ate with thevgrip shown in Figure-8.

Figure 7 shows the record-sheet in connection with the arms for supporting the same and the feed-rolls; for holding the record-sheet on the supporting arms.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of .the strip of detachable forms in which the perforations between successive bills are made larger for use inconnec tion with gaging the form-strip in order to dispense with separate perforations.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showsa modified form ofthe de vice forengaging the form-strip adapted to co-oper- Figure 10 is. a detail view of the device shown in Figure 9.

, Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view to illustratej the condition in which one or more of they independently-movable spring-pressed pins may register with and enterperforations between'forms although others do not.

' The revoluble platen 1 is supported, by

means of. anaxle 2, inend-frames 3 of the platen-frame 4. of the '11S112Ll Underwood typewriting machine, and the platen may be fed by means'of a finger-wheel 5 on the axle, or by means of a line-space" lever 6, acting through a slide 7 and a pawl 8, to drive a line-space ratchet-wheel 9 fixed on said axle; 2. The extentof such actuation of the line-space ratchet may. be determined by the position of-a regulator 10. v

The line-spacing mechanism just described is, in general, similar to that disclosed in the patent to Frederick .A. Hart, N0.

1,281,160, dated October 8, 1918.

In order that t-he work may be fedforward by the platen when the latter is actuated either by the finger-wheel 5 or. the.

line-space lever 6, provision may be made voi ,front feed-rolls 11 and rear feed-rolls 12, supported by levers l3 and 14, respectively, said levers being pivotallymounted on a shaft 15 and normally urged. by suitable springs (not shown) to press the feedrolls against the platen. When it is de sired to release the feed-rolls 11 and 12 for any reason, a feed-roll-release lever 16 maybe operated to move a link 17 and an and thereby move levers 13 and 14 to withf disclosed in said patent to Hart, No.-

The bill-strip 20 (Figure 6), when inserted in the machine, may be received by a paper-table 21 adjacent the delivery side of the platen, said paper-table 21 comprising sections 22 and 23 having edge-guides 24 and 25, respectively. Said sections 22 and 23 may be adjustable with respect to each other to vary the width 'of-the paper-table, and secured in such adjusted relation by any suitable means, such 1 as indicated 'at 26.. The

sections22 and 23 may also. be provided with slots- 27, through which pass screws 28, threaded'into a support 29, which, in turn, is-connecte'd at its ends to plates 30 supported by rods 31. Said rods 31 may be -supported in any desired manner on" the platen-frame;

Said section 22 of the paper-table may be .provided with a leading-edge-gage 32, preferably formed by" being struck upwardly from said. section 22.

In order to support the record-sheet 33 so i that it will be spaced from said paper-table 21 brackets 34 and 35 are attached to support 29at the left and right, respectively, of the'paper-table 21, and are provided with arms .36 .and 37 parallel to the paper-table and spaced therefrom. These arms serveto support and guide the record-sheet as it is delivered ltrom the platen. It will be noted that the arm" 36 of the lefthand bracket extends .to'theright, and that the arm 37 of .the right-hand bracket also extends to the right and is provided with a side-edge-gage 38. It should be understood that the record- The arrangement just described enables the use of a record-sheet wider than the in properly positioning the record-sheet when first introduced into the machine.

When it is desired to insert a record-sheet and a 'form-strip, with a carbon-sheet i-nterleaved therebetween, into the machine, the

feed-rolls 11 and 12 are released, the recordsheet is positioned by means of the aligned edges of arms 36 and 37, and the leading edge of the form strip is brought-into engagement with the leading-edge-guide 32.

The feed-rolls 11 and 12 may then be restored to effective position. Such positioning of the record-sheet and the form-strip may be facilitated by providing means for holding the record-sheet in position on arms 36 and 37 while the form-strip is being brought to proper position. Such holding of the record-sheet may be obtained by means of feed-rolls 39, :mounted on a rod forming part of a bail 40, which is supported, by means of arms 41 forming part thereof, on shafts 42. Said shafts 42 may be journaled in plates 43, secured to the respective end-frames 3 in any desired manner. In order to maintain the bail in effective position with the rolls 39 in contact with arms 36 and 37, or in a position withdrawn therefrom, shafts 42 may be provided with heads 44, having recesses 45 properly shaped to receive circular disks 46, carried by arms 47, pivoted .at- 48 and urged bysprings 49 to force said disks 46 into the recesses 45. Said feed-rolls 39 may be shiftablealong the rod the name and address thereon. As'indicated in Figure 1, the left-hand edge of the recordsheet is positioned to the right of the corresponding edge of the bill-stri so as to avoid interference, by the record-s eet, with said pin 52. Said pin 52 may be supported in a sleeve 53 on an arm 54, attached by means of screws 55 to the arm 41 at the left, as seen in Figure 1, and may be pressed toward the paper-table-by means of a light spring 56, movement of the pin by the spring being limited by means of a nut 57 at the upper end of a stem 58 forming part of said pin.

After the record-sheet and form-strip or bill-strip have been placed in the machine, as shown in Figure 3, the bail 40 may be swung forward to the position indicated in Figure 5, and typewriting effected by means of type-bars 59, striking through a ribbon 60, to print on the record-sheet '33; a copy of such typewriting being obtained on the billstrip by means of a suitable carbon-sheet 61 When desired, a tally-strip 62 and carbonsheet 63 may also be used. The feeding of the tally-strip may be effected by suitable means such as disclosed in said patent to Hart, No. 1,281,160. I

After writing each line of the name and address on the first bill, the platen is actuated by the line-space lever, the last actuat1on thereby serving to advance .the recordsheet to a position, for writing the first line of the second name and address thereon. The bill-strip will not, however, be properly positioned to receive the carbon-copy of the second name and address. In order to effect such positioning of the bill-strip, the bail may be swung to the rear, so that rolls 39 will press record-sheet 33 against arms 36 and 37 and will bring pin 52 into yielding engagement with bill-strip 20, as indicated in'Figure 4. Feed-rolls 11 and 12 may then be released, and bill-strip 2O drawn forward until the next aperture of perforation 50 in the bill-strip is brought into register with the aperture 51, whereupon pin 52 will assume the full-line position shown in Figure 5. The feed-rolls 11 and 12 may then be restored to effective position, and the bail swung away from the paper-table, as indicated in Figure 5. Obviously, the shifting of the bill-strip will be effected in the same manner for any subsequent bill.

Instead of using separate perforations 50 in the bill-strip, as indicated in Figure 6. the perforations between the detachable forms or bills may be utilized. In this case, the individual perforations may be made somewhat larger, as indicated in Figure 8, and the single spring-pressed pin may be replaced by a device such'as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Vith this arrangement, when the bill-strip is advanced to bring the line of perforations 64 into proper position, certain perforations may be engaged by a plurality of pins 65, mounted upon a modified form of arm 54, and light-ly' pressed to effective position by spring-fingers 66, which may be formed as part of a single plate 67, secured on the supporting arm. As inclicated in Figure 11, one or more of the independently-movable pins may register with and enter perforations between forms or bills although others do not. It is apparent there fore, that accurate positioning of the perforations in the lines of division is not so important as in the case where each form is provided with a single perforation to coclaim:

' paper-table, or provision mag operate with a single pin. In connection.

with the use of the plurality of pins 65, an elongated opening 68 may be provided in the be made of one'opening for each pin. bviously, the device shown in Figures 9 and 10 may be used in connection with a bill-strip having a line of perforations different from and in addition to those between the separate'bills.

As shown in Figure 7, the record-sheet a spring-pressed pin to co-operate with per forations in a secondwork-sheet, todetermine the proper positioning of the same at different times, and means to concomitantly render said gripping means effective and cause said spring-pressed in to yieldingly engage said second work-s eet, so that the latter may be drawn forward with reference to the first-worksheet until said pin enters one of said perforations in the second sheet and revents further movement thereof.

2. n a typewriting machine, in combina- .t1on, a revoluble platen, means to guide,

tion, a revoluble platen, normally ineffective means to engage a worksheet at the delivery side of the platen and prevent advance there of, a device, normally in ineffective position, for co-operating with a second work-sheet at certain points therealong determined by the configuration of said second sheet, and preventing advance movement thereof, and

-means for concomitant-1y rendering said errgaging means effective to prevent advance movement of the first-mentioned work-sheet and'to move said device to operative position,

so that said second work-s eet, after being advanced to one of said points where said device may co-operatetherewlth,will be held I against further movement.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a platen frame, a

front paper-table, aligned arms spaced from said paper-table, a swingable frame pivoted on said platen. frame, engaging devices on said swinging frame adapted to hold a work-- sheet against said arms, and means carried by said frame to co-operate with a second work-sheet of a. suitable configuration on said paper-table to,facilitate the proper positioning of the second work-sheet with re-.

spect to the first. t

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, aplaten frame, a front paper-table, a front edge ga e on said paper-table, aligned arms spaced rom said therearound a record sheet and a strip comprising a series of detachable sheets of equal lengths, normally ineffective means to hold said record sheet against movement, and normally ineffective means effective when said holding means is made effective to cooperate with said strip when the. latter is 'drawn forward, and thereby properlypositionone of-said detachable sheets for the first writing line thereon,

6. In a typewriting machine, incombina tion, a revoluble platen, means to feed therearound a' strip-of detachable forms,

said strip having transverse lines of perforations between said forms, and a gaging device comprising spring-pressed penetrat ing members adapted to enter the perforations between said forms as the strip is drawnforward and thereby position -sa1d 7. Ina typewriting machine, in combina-,

therearound a strip comprising portions of equal length having lines o'f"perforations therebetween, and means adapted to co op-- erate with the perforations in any one of said lines, and properly position one of said portions of the strip for the first writing line thereon.

. to co-operate with perforations in said workstrip to position the same, and a movable frame whereby said feed-rolls and said spring-pressed pin may be moved to and from operative position.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a front paper-table, a ridge thereon adapted-to act asa leading-edge gage, arms to support a worksheet in front of said table, a frame movyable toward and away from saidpapertable, holding members to co-operate with said armsmounted on said frame, and a spring-pressed penetrating device mounted on sald frame and adapted to engage perforations in a second work-sheet to roperiy position the same, said paper-tab e being perforated to permit penetration thereof by the penetrating device except when obstructed by the second work-sheet. I .10. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a revoluble platen, a platen frame, a

o paper-table at the deliveryside of the platen to receive a work-sheet fed therefrom, a support on which said paper-table-is adjustable longitudinally of the platen, brackets mounted on said support, each of said brackets comprising-an arm spaced from said paper-table, said arms constituting supporting means for an outer work-sheet, and

a side edge gage'on one of said arms.

11. In a tpewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a platen frame, a paper-table at the delivery side of platen to receive a work-sheet fed there from, said paper-table comprising two sections adjustable to vary the width thereof,

' a vsideedge gage oneachof said sections,

a support on which said paper-table is adjustable longitudinally of the platen, brack ets mounted on said support, each of said brackets comprising an arm spaced from said paper-table, said arms constituting sup- "porting means for an outer work-sheet, and

a side edge gage-on one of said arms. 12. In a typewriting machine,in combination, a revoluble platen,'a paper-table to receive from. said platen a work-sheet comprising a series of forms, means to support a second work-sheet outside of the first and spaced from said paper-table, said papertable and said supporting means having provisions whereby the leading edges of the respective sheets may be properly positioned with respect to each other, and means made effective at will to co-operate withsaid supporting means to hold the sheet in spaced relation with respect to the strip support, a swingable frame, devices on said frame to co-operate when said frame is in effective positionwith said supporting means to hold the record sheet and a pin on said frame yieldingly urged when said frame is in effective position toenter an opening in said support, but prevented from entering the same in case an imperforate portion of the work-strip prevents such entrance, whereby the, work strip may be properly positioned by drawing the same l forward until a perforation therein is brought into position to receive said pin. 14. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, means to co-operate therewith to feed therearound a stripof detachable forms provided with perforations, a record sheet outside of said strip, means in,-

.Cluding a spring-pressed feeler to concomitantly grasp saidrecord sheet to hold the same and to bring said feeler against said strip, sothat when, the latter is drawn forwarduntil the feeler enters a perforation therein another form on said strip will be in position to-be printed upon.

15. In atypewriting machine, in combination, a platen, line-spacing means therefor,

means for maintaining in operative relation with said platen, to be fed thereby, a record sheet and a strip comprising a plurality of forms arranged in Succession, means whereby said maintaining means may be made 4 ineffective when one or, more lines have been printed on said record sheet and strip and the platen line-spaced to advance the record sheet, and gaging means for gripping said record sheet to holdthe same against movement, and for co-operating with said strip,-when the same is drawn forward, to

check the movement thereof when the next '7 form is brought into proper position with reference to the record sheet."

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, feed-rolls to cooperate therewith for feeding work-sheets, means to release said work-sheets from said platen and said feed-rolls means to hold one of said work-sheets when the releasing means has been operated and while another. of said work-sheets, having openings at predetermined intervals, is being shifted longitudinally, and positioning means for said last-mentioned work-sheet including a yieldably-urged pin to enter one of said openings,

brought into'register therewith, and prevent further longitudinal movement.

17. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a frame therefor, a bar above said platen and extending longitudinally thereof, a paper-table to receive a work-sheet from the platen, said paper-table comprising two parts, each of which has an edge gage thereon, said parts being adjustable with respect to each other to receive work-shee'ts of various widths, means whereby said paper-table may be adjustably secured to said bar at different positions along said platen, a leading-edge gage on one of said parts, brackets to secure said bar at each side of said paper-table and extending beyond the level of said table, one of said brackets having an arm extending over said paper-table, the other of said brackets having an arm extending away from said paper-table in substantially the same plane as the first-mentioned arm, so that the two arms-may'for m asupport for a sheet out side of the one resting on the paper-table, rand wider than the inner sheet, and a side edge gage on said second-mentioned arm.

18. In a typewritingmachine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a paper-table to receive a work-sheet from said platen, means for supporting a second work-sheet above said paper-table, a swinging 'bail' movable to effective and ineffective positions, devices on said bail for clamping the first sheet against said supporting. means when said bail is in effective position, an arm on said bail, and a spring-pressed pin on said arm to enter a perforation in the paper-table when saidbail is in effective position.

19. In a typewriting machine, in. combination, a-revoluble platen, feed-rolls to cooperate therewith for feeding work-sheets, means'to release saidwork-sheets from said platen and said feed-rolls, means to hold one.

of said work-sheets when the releasing means has been operated and while another of saidwork-sheets, having openingsat predetermined intervals, is being shifted longi- 'tudinally,;-positioning means for said lastmentioned" work sheet including a springpressed' pin to enter one of said openings,

I'brought into register therewith, and pre- Vent further longitudinal movement, and

t means to render said pin and said holding longitudinal movement "thereof, a normallyv means effective and ineffective concomitantly.

20.-In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, feed-rollsto co- 35. .rate said platen and feed-rolls, normally inoperate' therewith, releasing means to sepa effective means to engage a work-sheet at the delivery sideof the platen and prevent ineffective device for co-operating ,with a second work-sheet at certain points therealong determined by the configuration of said second sheet and preventing'longitudinal shifting thereof, and means for render ing said normally ineffective preventing means and said deviceeffective to enable a proper relative positioning of the work I sheets to be effected when said releasing means has been'actuated.

21. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, guiding means for a work-sheet, holding means to co-operate with said guiding means to prevent longitudinal movement of the work-sheet, separate guiding means for a second work-sheet having a predetermined configuration, gaging meansto co-operate with the second work-sheet to position it in accordance with said predetermined configuration, and I means to render said holding means and said gaging means effective or ineffective at will.

22. Ina typewriting machine,in combination, aplaten and collating means for effecting a proper relative longitudinal adjustment' of superposed work-sheets on the platen, said collating means including means for holding one of said work-sheets against longitudinal movement, and arresting means for another work-sheet having perforations at predetermined intervals, the effectiveness the perforated sheet, whereby, upon reaching any one of the positions indicated by the perforations, the perforated work-sheet will be arrested.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination with .a platen, of means for collat-- of said arresting means being controlled by v ing superposed work-sheets, comprising 'a' pin yieldably urged intoengagement with one of said work-sheets to enter anopening therein to determine the .proper position of the work-sheet when ,the latter is drawn along until said opening ispositioned to receive the 'pin, and means to hold another Work-sheet against movement while the work-sheet having the opening thereinis being shifted. 1

24. In a typewriting. machine, the combination with a platen, of means for collating superposed work sheets, comprising a pin yieldably.urged into engagement with one of said work-sheets'to enter an opening therein to determine the proper position of the work-sheet when the latter is drawn along until said opening is positioned to receive the pin, means to hold another worksheet against movement while the work-sheet having the opening therein is being shifted,

and means whereby said pin and said holding means may be made ineffective con- 'comitantly.

25. In a typewriting machine, 'the combination with a platen, of collatingmeans comprising a spring-pressed pin for yield- .ably engaging a work-sheet to enter a perforation therein when the latter is brought beneath said pin, so as to prevent further movement of the work-sheet, manually-operable means to withdraw the pin from the perforation in the work-sheet, and means to hold another work-sheet against movement while the first-mentioned work-sheet is being shifted. a A

' 26. In a t g' pewriting'v machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of feedrolls co-operative therewith to hold worksheets thereagainst, means for separating the sheets thereagainst, means-for separating the feedrolls and the platen, means for positioning a work-sheet, comprising a pin yield ingly pressed toward the work-sheet, so asto enter an opening therein When the Worksheet is shifted to the proper position, and prevent further movement thereofl means for holding a'second ork-sheet during the shifting movement of the first-mentioned Work-sheet; and means to render said pin and said holding means effective festive concomitantlv. I

28. In a typewriting machine, in combinaand ineftion, a platen around which superposed Work-sheets and interleaved carbons are fed,

and collating means made effectiveat will 15 whereby one of said sheets Will be held against longitudinal movement and another sheet be, arrested automatically after ad-i vancement to a predetermined position. 

